Apparatus for and method of carrying marine cargo

ABSTRACT

A marine vessel in which oppositely disposed ends are connected by a bottom and a crate structure therebetween. The ends and bottom define floatation spaces, and, in combination with the crate structure, define side opening cargo spaces in the interstices between longitudinal and transverse elements. And in detachable combination with the vessel, a plurality of floatable cargo modules that are complementary in size and shape, either singly or in combination, to the respective cargo spaces, to serve as lighters, then as individual holds, and as interstice closures when fastened in place in the crate structure. Propulsion machinery can be mounted in the after of the oppositely disposed ends either permanently or as a detachable propulsion module as described in my push-tow U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,628. Remotely controlled flood valves and evacuation pumps are mounted in the flotation spaces for controlling the draft of the vessel for loading and unloading the cargo modules in and out of the side opening cargo spaces by floating.

United States Patent Garcia APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CARRYING MARINE CARGO EmilioC. Garcia, 441 Gravier St., New Orleans, La. 70130 22 Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 222,423

[76] lnventor:

Primary ExaminerDuane A. Reger Assistant ExaminerGa1en L. Barefoot Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James B. Lake, .lr.

57 ABSTRACT A marine vessel in which oppositely disposed ends are connected by a bottom and a crate structure thcrebetween. The ends and bottom define floatation spaces, and, in combination with the crate structure, define side opening cargo spaces in the interstices between longitudinal and transverse elements. And in detachable combination with the vessel, a plurality of floatable cargo modules that are complementary in size and shape, either singly or in combination, to the respective cargo spaces, to serve as lighters, then as individual holds, and as interstice closures when fastened in place in the crate structure. Propulsion machinery Y can be mounted in the after of the oppositely disposed ends either permanently or as a detachable propulsion module as described in my push-tow US. Pat. No. 3,613,628. Remotely controlled flood valves and evacuation pumps are mounted in the flotation spaces for controlling the draft of the vessel for loading and unloading the cargo modules in and out of the side opening cargo spaces by floating.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB m 12 I974 SHEEI 1 UP 2 FIG. I

FIG. 2

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SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 4

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CARRYING MARINE CARGO The invention relates generally to cargo carrying marine vessels, and more particularly to an apparatus for and a method of shipping marine cargo.

It is old in the art to use cargo storage lighters to carry cargo out to a ship and then to hoist lighter and cargo aboard for storage through deck hatches in the ships holds.

It is an object of the invention to provide a ships structure in which cargo modules can be floated and propelled aboard and secured therein as detachable holds and as fairing members of the ships structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of loading, carrying and unloading cargo with the least expenditure of time, energy and cost.

Other objects and a more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description, claims and drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a three-dimensional view of a first specie of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along section lines 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a second specie of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention similar to FIG. 2 taken along section lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 the invention comprises in combination a marine vessel or 40 having side opening cargo spaces 12 extending partially below a trimable waterline, and cargo modules 14 or 44 adapted to float out to and into said cargo spaces, the modules functioning as lighters between shore and vessel and as detachable cargo holds in an amidship crate structure of said vessel.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first specie of the invention comprises bow and stern portions 16 and 18 respectively, which define flotation spaces 20 and 22. A bottom portion 24, defining flotation space 26 connects said bow and stem portions. The bottom and bow portions, 24 and 16 respectively are conventional in shape andwatertight structure. The stern portion is designed to house propulsion apparatus for the vessel as a fixed installation 28. The amidship portion 32 of the vessel 10 situated between said bow, stern and bottom portions comprises a crate structure 34 that outlines the shape of a similar portion of a conventional marine vessel and provides strength enough to hold the vessel and cargo together in a seaway. Side opening cargo spaces 12 are defined by equi-dimensional interstices in the crate structure 34 and between said structure and that of the connected bow, stern and bottom portions 16, I8, and 24. A deck 35 as substantial as bottom portion 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 4), closes the tops of cargo spaces Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first specie of cargo module 14 is provided in at least the same plurality as cargo spaces, or in multiples of said plurality (not shown), shaped to fit singly or in combination in respective cargo spaces 12. The cargo modules are watertight and used as lighters to carry cargo between ship and shore. The modules are adapted to be floated into the cargo spaces aided by winches 36 mounted on the crate structure, with tugs, or with small propulsion units (not shown). The vessel 10 is trimmed by partially flooding the floatation spaces to a depth to receive the modules or to discharge them by floating them in and out of said cargo spaces. After receiving modules the flotation spaces are evacuated for the vessel to make contact with the modules on the bottom portion 24. The modules practically fill the cargo spaces and their ends fair the sides of the vessel 10 above and below its shallowest waterline.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a second species of the invention leaves the cargo spaces 12 open at the top, and curves the bottom 54 of the crate structure 64 to present finer hull lines. The top of the crate structure is strengthened by gunwhales 65. This second specie is illustrated having detachable propulsion apparatus that fits into an indented stem 48. Fixed and detachable v propulsion apparatus can be utilized in either of the species of the invention adapted therefor. Second specie modules 44 have bottoms beveled upwardly and outwardly at the ends that conform to the finer lines of a curved bottom 54 and thus contribute to the speed of the vessel 40. At the same time the bevels make the modules easier to propel between ship and shore and in and out of structure 64.

The modules of both species are held in place by jacks 66 that depend in the first specie from deck 35 and in the second from-gunwhales 65 to engage the tops of the modules 14 and 44 respectively for pressing the modules against the bottom portion and locking them in place.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a marine vessel having an amidship of open crate structure comprising upper and lower longitudinal and upper transverse members rigidly defining one level of open-ended transverse compartments that extend transversely throughout said vessel for use as open sided cargo spaces that extend above and below the vessels waterline, and floatable watertight cargo modules adapted to fill said cargo spaces and close said compartments to thereby load the vessel, and means for raising and lowering the vessel to ground said cargo modules in said cargo spaces, and jacks depending from said upper transverse members for engaging said cargo modules in compression in said cargo spaces to lock and release said cargo modules between said jacks and said lower longitudinal member in said cargo spaces.

2. In combination as described in claim 1 wherein outboard members of said cargo modules fair the bottom and outboard sides, above and below said vessels waterline, of the amidship crate structure of the marine vessel. 

1. In combination, a marine vessel having an amidship of open crate structure comprising upper and lower longitudinal and upper transverse members rigidly defining one level of open-ended transverse compartments that extend transversely throughout said vessel for use as open sided cargo spaces that extend above and below the vessel''s waterline, and floatable watertight cargo modules adapted to fill said cargo spaces and close said compartments to thereby load the vessel, and means for raising and lowering the vessel to ground said cargo modules in said cargo spaces, and jacks depending from said upper transverse members for engaging said cargo modules in compression in said cargo spaces to lock and release said cargo modules between said jacks and said lower longitudinal member in said cargo spaces.
 2. In combination as described in claim 1 wherein outboard members of said cargo modules fair the bottom and outboard sides, above and below said vessel''s waterline, of the amidship crate structure of the marine vessel. 